November is Chicago's fastest cooling month, a point driven home by Wednesday morning's chilly temperatures. Cloud cover and showers overnight prevented a repeat of the mid 20s recorded across a number of far western suburbs Tuesday morning. But, 30s were widespread and clouds and lingering sprinkles and light showers Wednesday will prevent daytime readings from rising out of the 40s ---the chilliest high temps here of the coming 7 days. Normal November highs tumble from 55-degrees on the first to 40-degrees on the 30th.
However, the month's tendency to cool hardly means all mild weather is behind us. A year ago, the Chicago area logged three consecutive 70-degree days (73, 71 and 71 on Nov. 3, 4 and 5.) And weather records reveal an average of one in three years has produced at least one additional 70-degree beyond this date and 93 percent of all years have added additional 60s. The 139-year average is four 60+degree highs past Nov. 4.
All signs point toward such a warm-up this weekend---a mild spell likely to extend into early next week. Late season warm-ups are extremely sensitive to cloud cover. Too much cloudiness or an outbreak of precipitation can take a serious toll on late year warm spells. So can a wind-shift off Lake Michigan. But, barring more cloudiness than is currently foreseen, the Chicago area could be in for a string of four 60-degree daytime highs from Friday afternoon through Monday. It would make the upcoming weekend this area's first since late September to host back to back 60s.
Computer models do indicate a weakness in the pressure field Saturday night into Sunday morning which has to be monitored. This may well allow a wind-shifting front to sag southward across the area. Such a development would permit southeast winds to take hold reaching lakeside counties after a trip over cool lake waters a portion of Sunday, lowering shoreline temperatures. But these same models take the front back north of the area and strengthen south winds Sunday afternoon and evening. Such a scenario would put 60s within reach of most of the Chicago area Sunday. And well organized south winds Monday and indications that most cloudiness is to remain to the west of the area until Monday night and Tuesday appear to favor more 60s Monday. Temperatures at such levels this time of the year are 15 to 20-degrees above normal.
Southwest sizzles in hottest late season air on record
Record warmth across the Southwest U.S. Tuesday produced a 96-degree high in Phoenix---the hottest temperature there ever so late in the season--- and a peak reading of 93 in Tucson.
However, the month's tendency to cool hardly means all mild weather is behind us. A year ago, the Chicago area logged three consecutive 70-degree days (73, 71 and 71 on Nov. 3, 4 and 5.) And weather records reveal an average of one in three years has produced at least one additional 70-degree beyond this date and 93 percent of all years have added additional 60s. The 139-year average is four 60+degree highs past Nov. 4.
All signs point toward such a warm-up this weekend---a mild spell likely to extend into early next week. Late season warm-ups are extremely sensitive to cloud cover. Too much cloudiness or an outbreak of precipitation can take a serious toll on late year warm spells. So can a wind-shift off Lake Michigan. But, barring more cloudiness than is currently foreseen, the Chicago area could be in for a string of four 60-degree daytime highs from Friday afternoon through Monday. It would make the upcoming weekend this area's first since late September to host back to back 60s.
Computer models do indicate a weakness in the pressure field Saturday night into Sunday morning which has to be monitored. This may well allow a wind-shifting front to sag southward across the area. Such a development would permit southeast winds to take hold reaching lakeside counties after a trip over cool lake waters a portion of Sunday, lowering shoreline temperatures. But these same models take the front back north of the area and strengthen south winds Sunday afternoon and evening. Such a scenario would put 60s within reach of most of the Chicago area Sunday. And well organized south winds Monday and indications that most cloudiness is to remain to the west of the area until Monday night and Tuesday appear to favor more 60s Monday. Temperatures at such levels this time of the year are 15 to 20-degrees above normal.
Southwest sizzles in hottest late season air on record
Record warmth across the Southwest U.S. Tuesday produced a 96-degree high in Phoenix---the hottest temperature there ever so late in the season--- and a peak reading of 93 in Tucson.
